DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
Course Descriptions
The graduate programs in Curriculum and Instruction are designed to accomplish the following basic purposes: a) to improve and extend the professional competence of early childhood, middle, and secondary teachers; b) to prepare teachers for special positions in the schools; c) and, to prepare students for doctoral work in university graduate programs. Students seeking a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction will receive an individually designed plan that best suits their interest and needs. Individualized degree plans may also be designed for persons interested in a master’s degree but not holding nor seeking teacher certification. Additionally, a program to attain initial certification for persons holding a degree in a teaching field is offered in this department.
Students seeking initial certification may also pursue a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. For students seeking teacher certification as part of the master’s degree, 24- certification hours are required.
Students seeking a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction will take thesis hours while completing the thesis at the end of the master’s degree. The thesis hours will replace hours within the degree electives. The remainder of the program will be individualized.
Depending on the program, a comprehensive examination covering coursework in the major and minor field must be passed or comprehensive graduate research must be proposed and defended before Curriculum and Instruction faculty prior to graduation. Students must be enrolled during the semester in which they take their comprehensive exam.
Admission Requirements
Student applications for admission to the graduate programs in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction are assessed holistically on multiple criteria by a faculty committee. To be considered, students should submit:
1. An undergraduate degree from an accredited academic institution
2. An acceptable undergraduate grade point average
3. An acceptable score on the Verbal and Quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination
4. Score on the GRE writing section
5. A letter of recommendation referencing the applicant’s potential as a teacher leader
Students who have not yet completed their admission file (i.e. have not taken the GRE) may be approved for enrollment for one semester by the academic advisor. Students who do not meet the requirements for regular admission may be granted probationary admission for enrollment in coursework for one semester.
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
This program is designed to prepare students to teach duel credit courses and/or courses at the community colleges. In collaboration with an advisor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction the student will develop an individual plan consistent with the student’s interests and needs.
This plan offers the following options that can be tailored to fit the student’s needs. The student will design a program with the 12 core hours and the remaining 24 hours taken from a combination of additional Curriculum and Instruction courses and/or courses selected from another area(s) of interest. The minor hours may be taken in education or any teaching or interest field. Individual plans would have the following possible options:
Core Hours |
1st Minor Hours |
2nd Minor Hours |
| (Non-Certification) | (C & I or teaching area) | (C & I or teaching area) |
| 12 hour core | 12 | 12 |
| 12 hour core | 18 | 6 |
| 12 hour core | 24 | 0 |
| Core Coursework | 12 SCH | |
| CI 570 | Research in Teaching | 3 SCH |
| CI 584 | Curriculum Trends for Classroom Teachers | 3 SCH |
| CI 583 | Integrating Current Technologies in Teaching | 3 SCH |
| CI 585 | Current Issues in Education | 3 SCH |
| Teaching Field/C & I Electives | 12-24 SCH | |
| C&I Electives | ||
| CI 533 | Roles and Responsibilities of the Prof. Educator | 3 SCH |
| CI 560 | Advanced Techniques and Methods of Instruction | 3 SCH |
| CI 587 | Workshop in Education | 3 SCH |
| CI 590 | Advanced Methods of Classroom Management and Discipline | 3 SCH |
| EED 591 | Problems in Teaching Elementary Mathematics | 3 SCH |
| EED 592 | Problems in Teaching Elementary Science` | 3 SCH |
| EED 596 | Problems in Teaching Social Studies | 3 SCH |
| CI 597 | Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan | 3 SCH |
| Total Hours | 36 SCH | |
Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with Certification
Students who are seeking initial certification as part of a masters program will need to complete the 30 hours of coursework listed below. Twenty-four of the listed hours are certification courses.
| Total Hours | Core/Certification | Electives |
| 30 | 24 | 6 |
| Core Coursework | 12 SCH | |
| CI 533 | Roles and Responsibilities of the Professional Educator | 3 SCH |
| CI 560 | Advanced Techniques and Methods of Instruction | 3 SCH |
| CI 587A | Quantitative Research Methods I | 3 SCH |
| CI 587B | Program Evaluation | 3 SCH |
| CI 593 | Assessment of Learning | 3 SCH |
| CI 590 | Advanced Methods of Classroom Management and Discipline | 3 SCH |
| CI 597 | Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan | 3 SCH |
| RDG 536 | Workshop in Reading (EC-4, 4-8, 8-12) | 3 SCH |
| CI 598 | Internship in Classroom Instruction | 3 SCH |
| CI 599 | Internship in Classroom Instruction | 3 SCH |
Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction
Master of Arts (Thesis Option) This degree plan is designed for individuals who wish to write a thesis as part of the requirements for the Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. The thesis courses will replace any two elective courses selected by the student. A comprehensive examination is required during the final semester of course work. Students must be enrolled during the semester the comprehensive examination is taken.
Core Hours |
1st Minor Hours
|
2nd Minor Hours
|
| 12 hour core | 12 | 12 |
| 12 hour core | 18 | 6 |
| 12 hour core | 24 | 0 |
| Core Coursework | 12 SCH | |
| CI 570 | Research in Teaching | 3 SCH |
| CI 584 | Curricular Trends for Classroom Teachers | 3 SCH |
| CI 583 | Integrating Current Technologies in Teaching | 3 SCH |
| CI 593 | Assessment of Learning | 3 SCH |
| Teaching Field/ C & I Electives | 12-24 SCH | |
| CI 533 | Roles and Responsibilities of the Professional Educator | 3 SCH |
| CI 560 | Advanced Techniques and Methods of Instruction | 3 SCH |
| CI 585 | Current Issues in Education | 3 SCH |
| CI 587 | Workshop in Education | 3 SCH |
| CI 590 | Advanced Methods of Classroom Management and Discipline | 3 SCH |
| EED 591 | Problems in Teaching Elementary Mathematics | 3 SCH |
| EED 592 | Problems in Teaching Elementary Science | 3 SCH |
| EED 596 | Problems in Teaching Social Studies | 3 SCH |
| CI 593 | Assessment of Learning | 3 SCH |
| CI 597 | Human Growth and Development Across the Lifespan | 3 SCH |
| Total Hours | 36 SCH | |
Master of Education in Instructional Technology
For students who have a bachelor’s degree, an advisor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction will assist the student in developing an individual plan consistent with the student’s interests and needs.
The Program, consisting of 36 semester credit hours, includes courses from two colleges and three different departments. The program consists of four courses from Curriculum and Instruction, four courses from Computer Science, and four courses from Educational Leadership.
| Core Hours | 1st Minor Hours | 2nd Minor Hours |
| (Curriculum & Instruction) | (Computer Science) | (Educational Leadership) |
| 12-hour Core | 12 hours | 12 hours |
| Core Coursework | 12 SCH |
| CI 563 The Role of the Technology Liaison | 3 SCH |
| CI 567 Readings and Trends in Instructional Technology | 3 SCH |
| CI 569 Practicum for Technology Facilitation | 3 SCH |
| CI 565 Technology and Cognition | 3 SCH |
| Computer Science | |
| CS 583 Educational Multimedia | 3 SCH |
| CS 585 Critical Analysis of Instructional Software | 3 SCH |
| CS 587 Designing Instructional Materials for the Web | 3 SCH |
| CS 589 Development of Technology Infrastructure in School | 3 SCH |
| Educational Leadership | |
| ASE 532 Administration and Organization of Public Schools | 3 SCH |
| ASE 578 Curriculum Planning | 3 SCH |
| ASE 668 Instructional Leadership I | 3 SCH |
| ASE 586 Special Populations and Special Programs | 3 SCH |
- Curriculum and Instruction (CI) Course Descriptions
- Elementary Education(EED) Course Descriptions
- Secondary Education (SED) Course Descriptions